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Drive-Thru Hardware Setup

Complete guide for installing and configuring drive-thru hardware.

Hardware Requirements​

Minimum Requirements​

ComponentSpecificationQuantity
Order Point Display10"+ touchscreen, outdoor-rated1 per lane
Customer Display15"+ order confirmation screen1 per lane
Headset SystemWireless, noise-canceling2+ per lane
Speaker BoxWeatherproof, 2-way1 per lane
Network SwitchPoE, outdoor-rated1
Edge ServerOlympusEdge (for offline)1 (recommended)
ComponentRecommended ModelNotes
HeadsetsPlantronics EncorePro 720Best noise cancellation
Speaker BoxHME EOS HDIndustry standard
DisplaysElo Touch 1593LSunlight readable
NetworkUbiquiti EdgeSwitchReliable PoE

Installation Overview​

                    Drive-Thru Hardware Layout

    ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
    │                   KITCHEN                           │
    │   ┌─────────┐                      ┌─────────┐     │
    │   │   KDS   │                      │  Edge   │     │
    │   │ Display │                      │ Server  │     │
    │   └────┬────┘                      └────┬────┘     │
    │        │                                │          │
    │        └────────────┬───────────────────┘          │
    │                     │ Network                      │
    └─────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────┘
                          │
    ┌─────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────┐
    │   DRIVE-THRU AREA   │                              │
    │                     │                              │
    │   ┌─────────┐   ┌───┴───┐   ┌─────────┐          │
    │   │Customer │   │Network│   │ Order   │          │
    │   │ Screen  │   │Switch │   │ Display │          │
    │   └────┬────┘   └───┬───┘   └────┬────┘          │
    │        │            │            │                │
    │   ┌────┴────┐   ┌───┴───┐   ┌────┴────┐         │
    │   │ Speaker │   │Headset│   │ Payment │         │
    │   │   Box   │   │ Base  │   │Terminal │         │
    │   └─────────┘   └───────┘   └─────────┘         │
    │                                                   │
    │   [LANE 1 ORDER POINT] ─────────────────────────▶│
    │                                                   │
    └───────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Step-by-Step Installation​

Step 1: Network Infrastructure​

Install Network First

Always complete and verify network infrastructure before installing any other hardware. Voice AI, displays, and payment terminals all depend on a stable network connection. Proceeding without network verification can lead to costly rework.

  1. Run ethernet cable from main network to drive-thru area
  2. Install PoE switch in weatherproof enclosure
  3. Test network connectivity before proceeding
# Verify network (from order point)
ping -c 4 gateway.local
# Expected: 0% packet loss

Step 2: Speaker Box Installation​

  1. Mount speaker box at order point (customer-facing)
  2. Connect to headset base via audio cable
  3. Connect to network switch via ethernet (if IP-enabled)
  4. Test 2-way audio:
    • Press PTT (Push-to-Talk) on headset
    • Speak and verify customer hears clearly
    • Have customer speak and verify staff hears

Step 3: Order Point Display​

  1. Mount display at staff position (weather-protected)
  2. Connect power (use surge protector)
  3. Connect ethernet to PoE switch
  4. Boot and configure:
    • Navigate to Settings → Network → Configure
    • Set static IP or DHCP
    • Test connection to cloud

Step 4: Customer Display​

  1. Mount outdoor display facing customer (visible from vehicle)
  2. Connect power and network
  3. Configure display mode:
    • Navigate to Settings → Display Mode → Customer
    • Set brightness for outdoor visibility
    • Enable order confirmation display

Step 5: Headset System​

  1. Place headset base near staff position
  2. Connect to speaker box (audio cable)
  3. Connect to network (for Voice AI)
  4. Pair headsets:
    • Place headset in charging cradle
    • Press pairing button on base
    • Verify connection indicator

Audio Calibration​

Microphone Setup​

  1. Open Voice AI Settings → Audio Calibration

  2. Run Background Noise Test:

    • Click "Test" with no speaking
    • AI measures ambient noise
    • Threshold automatically set

  3. Run Voice Level Test:

    • Speak at normal volume
    • AI calibrates input gain
    • Green indicator = optimal

Speaker Setup​

  1. Test speaker volume:

    • Play test tone
    • Adjust until clearly audible from vehicle
    • Not so loud as to disturb neighbors

  2. Test Voice AI output:

    • Trigger a test greeting
    • Verify clarity and volume
    • Adjust TTS speed if needed

Calibration Tips​

Calibrate During Quiet Hours

Run audio calibration during off-hours when there is no traffic or kitchen noise. This gives the AI an accurate baseline for background noise filtering, resulting in much better voice recognition accuracy during service.

IssueAdjustment
Customer can't hearIncrease speaker volume
AI can't understandReduce background noise threshold
Echo/feedbackAdjust microphone gain down
Clipping/distortionReduce speaker volume

Network Configuration​

SettingValueNotes
IP AssignmentDHCP with reservationEasy management
SubnetSeparate VLANSecurity isolation
BandwidthMin 10 Mbps per laneVoice AI requirement
LatencyUnder 50ms to cloudFor real-time AI

Firewall Requirements​

PortProtocolPurpose
443HTTPSAPI communication
8443WSSReal-time updates
3478UDPVoice AI streaming
5004UDPAudio streaming

Testing Network​

# Test API connectivity
curl https://api.restaurantrevolution.ai/health

# Test Voice AI endpoint
curl https://voice.restaurantrevolution.ai/health

# Test latency
ping -c 10 api.restaurantrevolution.ai
# Target: avg < 50ms

Voice AI Activation​

Prerequisites​

  • Audio calibrated
  • Network configured
  • Location Voice AI enabled (by admin)

Activation Steps​

  1. Navigate to Settings → Voice AI → Activation
  2. Enter activation code (from admin)
  3. Accept Voice AI terms
  4. Run activation test:
    • AI greets test customer
    • Test order placement
    • Verify transcription accuracy

Voice AI Modes​

ModeDescriptionWhen to Use
Full AIAI handles entire conversationHigh-volume, simple menus
AI AssistAI transcribes, staff confirmsComplex menus, training
ManualTraditional headset onlyAI issues, backup

Integration with Existing POS​

Supported Integrations​

POS SystemIntegration TypeNotes
Restaurant RevolutionNativeFull Voice AI support
SquareAPILimited Voice AI
ToastAPIOrder push only
CloverAPIOrder push only

Native Integration​

For Restaurant Revolution POS:

  1. Orders sync automatically
  2. Menu updates in real-time
  3. Voice AI uses live menu data
  4. Payments process through main system

Third-Party Integration​

  1. Configure API connection in Settings
  2. Map menu items between systems
  3. Set order push rules
  4. Test order flow

Troubleshooting Hardware​

Common Issues​

IssuePossible CauseSolution
No audioCable disconnectedCheck all audio cables
Display blackPower issueCheck power, restart
Network timeoutConnectivityCheck ethernet, switch
Voice AI offlineNetwork/activationCheck internet, re-activate
Echo/feedbackGain too highReduce microphone gain

Diagnostic Mode​

Access diagnostic mode:

  1. Press and hold Settings for 5 seconds
  2. Enter admin PIN
  3. Select Diagnostics
  4. Run hardware tests

Contact Support​

For hardware issues beyond this guide:

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